WITH CRACK AND POWDER COCAINE DISTRIBUTIONIN BROMLEY-HEATH HOUSING PROJECT AREA
Boston, MA... United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Daniel Conley, Suffolk County District Attorney; Kenneth W. Kaiser, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England; and Albert Goslin, Acting Commissioner of the Boston PoliceDepartment, announced the unsealing today of twelve federal Indictments and one Complaint charging a total of eighteen defendants with distributing crack and powder cocaine in the Bromley-Heath housing development, in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston. Also, fiveindividuals, three of whom under the age of 18, have been named in state charges alleging cocaine distribution.
“This investigation reflects the commitment of the Department of Justice, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, to work closely together with local and state agencies to bring federal resources to bear on community Problems,” stated U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “In this case, each of the federal defendants is alleged to have dealt crack or powder cocaine either inside or within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility or with using minors in their drug operations. Such activity cannot be tolerated. Law abiding citizens, regardless of their social or economic status, should be able to reside in safety, without fear or exposure to drug activity and the violence that typically accompanies it.”
Today’s charges are the result of a six-month investigation conducted by FBI Special Agents and members of the Boston Police Department's District E-13 Drug Control Unit, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Brick House”, targeted crack Cocaine trafficking in the Bromley-Heath Housing Development in Jamaica Plain. All but one of the eighteen federal defendants are charged with distribution of crack cocaine; one is alleged to have distributed powder cocaine. As well, all but one of the eighteen federal defendants are also charged with having conducted their drug deals either inside or within 1,000 feet of the Bromley-Heath Housing Development - a charge that doubles the maximum sentence from 20 to 40 years in prison for crack distribution. Additionally, two of the defendants, TROY BISHOP and CARL BARROWS, are alleged to have used minors in their drug dealing activities, including exchanging drugs and money with customers.
“No family should have to live or raise children in the shadow of drugs and crime,” stated District Attorney Conley. “The drug trade destroys individuals, families, and communities, and the indictments announced today reflect a joint effort by local, state, and federal authorities to cut it down wherever it takes root. These charges, and the investigation that preceded them, represent our shared commitment to a better quality of life for the residents of the Bromley-Heath development and public housing across the Commonwealth.”
Based on today’s drug charges, where appropriate, the housing contracts of defendants and their families will be subject to a review by the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for possible referral to the Housing Court for eviction. Tenants of public housing projects such as Bromley-Heath must sign HUD Section 8 housing contracts that include the prohibition of drug activity or the knowing allowance of drug activity by any of the residents in an apartment. Violation of this housing contract condition can result in eviction following a hearing and a ruling by the Housing Court.
Nine of the eighteen federal defendants were arrested this morning and will appear later this afternoon in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Four of the federal defendants, KENNETH WHIGHAM, SR., LUIS RAMON ORTIZ, LUIS GARCIA, JR. and AMOS CARRASQUILLO, are already in state custody on unrelated charges. Two of the five state defendants were also arrested this morning; one, ANTONIO BETACOUR, is already in state custody. The arrests of the remaining five federal defendants and two state defendants are still being sought.
“This level of federal, state and local coordination can have a substantial effect on drug trade as evidenced by today’s indictments, which have successfully extracted a significant number of impact players for the Bromley-Heath community,” stated Acting BPD Commissioner Goslin. “The Boston Police Department, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will remain steadfast in our efforts to get drug dealers off the streets so we can provide a safer community for all Boston residents.”
“The FBI will continue to aggressively partner with its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to remove dangerous felons form the streets and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Boston,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Kaiser. “This investigation is an example of what cooperative law enforcement can accomplish when all agencies pull together to accomplish a goal and send a message that violent crime and drug trafficking will not be tolerated.”
Charged in the first federal Indictment with distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project (3 counts for WHIGHAM; 1 count for BROWN; and 2 counts for HAYNES) are:
1. KENNETH WHIGHAM, SR., age 43, of 17 Horan Way, #181, Jamaica Plain,MA;
2. MYLES HAYNES, age 36, of 60 Bickford St., Jamaica Plain, MA; and
3. GERROD BROWN, age 22, of 934 Parker St., Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the second federal Indictment with 2 counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. JAMEEL GIBBONS, age 21, of 30 Logan Way, Boston, MA.
Charged in the third federal Indictment with 1 count of conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of crack cocaine, 1 count of distribution of crack cocaine, distribution of 5 grams or more of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project (2 counts for JONES, and 1 count for BELTRE), and 1 count of distribution of crack cocaine (JONES and BELTRE only)are:
1. CYRUS JONES, age 22, of 45 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA;
2. AURELIO BELTRE, age 35, of 7 Wenham St., #1, Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the fourth federal Indictment with 3 counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. KEITH R. ALLEN, age 34, of 18 Walden St, #36, Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the fifth federal Indictment with 2 counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. RAYMOND BADGETT, age 18, of Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the sixth federal Indictment with 1 count of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. ROBERT LOVING, age 38, of 64 Brunswick St, #302, Dorchester, MA.
Charged in the seventh federal Indictment with 2 counts of distribution of powder cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. LUIS RAMON ORTIZ, age 31, of 138 Centre St., #50, Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the eighth federal Indictment with 2 counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. JIWAN BATTISTE, age 27, of Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the ninth federal Indictment with 2 counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project, and 1 count of possession with intent to distribute of more than 5 grams of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. DAMIAN BUSH, age 22, of 287 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the tenth federal Indictment with 1 count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and use of minors in a drug operation, and 2 counts of distribution of crack cocaine and use of minors in a drug operation is:
1. TROY BISHOP, age 38, of 58 Franklin Hill Ave., #2, Boston, MA.
Charged in the eleventh federal Indictment with 2 counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project is:
1. KENNETH WHIGHAM, JR., age 24, of 319 Centre St., #2, Jamaica Plain, MA.
Charged in the twelfth federal Indictment with conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of crack cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project (2 counts each for CARRASQUILLO and GARCIA, and 3 counts for GARRASTEGUY), and 1count of distribution of crack (CARRASQUILLO and GARCIA only) are:
1. AMOS CARRASQUILLO, age 18, of 921 Parker St., #517, Jamaica Plain, MA;
2. NATHAN GARRASTEGUY, age 25, of 129 Parker St., #174, Jamaica Plain,MA; and
3. LUIS GARCIA, JR, age 20, of 15A Cornelia St., Mission Hill, MA.
Charged in a federal criminal Complaint with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project and use of minors in a drug operation is:
1. CARL BARROWS, age 18, of 1 Horan Way, #262, Jamaica Plain, MA.
Upon conviction, the federal defendants, many of whom have previous drug felony convictions, each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and if found to have distributed crack or powder cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project or to have used minors in a drug operation, the potential sentence is doubled to a 40 year maximum. Those charged with conspiracy and/or distribution of 5 grams or more of crack cocaine face a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of 40 years, and, if found to have distributed crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing project or to have used minors in a drug operation, the maximum sentence is doubled to 80 years.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office today charged the following individuals with Distribution of a Class B substance and Distribution of a Class B substance in a School Zone:
1. DOMINIQUE HINES, age 17, of 106 Heath St., Roxbury, MA;
2. JASON ANTHONY GRAHM, age 17, of 26 Alice Ave., Lynn, MA;
3. ANTONIO BETACOUR, age 34, of 49 South St., Jamaica Plain, MA;
4. NATHANIEL EDGE, age 43 of 944 Parker St, Jamaica Plain, MA; and
5. JUVENILE #1, age 16, of Roxbury, MA.
The investigation is continuing.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Boston Police Department’s District E-13 Drug Control Unit with assistance from the Massachusetts Housing Authority Police. The federal community impact cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Sullivan’s Organized Crime Strike Force Unit. The state cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys in Conley’s Gang and Drug Units.
The details contained in the Indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Press Contact: U.S. Attorney’ Office: Samantha Martin, (617) 748-3139 Suffolk County DA’s Office: Jake Wark, (617) 619-4206